A complex merger of GP practices in Holderness is to go ahead despite one of the surgeries pulling out.

Eastgate Medical Group at Hornsea has decided not to merge with three other Holderness practices. Withernsea’s South Holderness Medical Practice, Hedon Group Practice and Church View Surgery have confirmed in a joint statement they still plan to merge on October 1.

A merger date of July 1 was originally planned for the four Holderness practices but this was recently put back to October 1 “due to the complexities involved”.

Eastgate Medical Group at Hornsea has pulled out of a Holderness merger (Image: Jerome Ellerby)

Eastgate Medical Group, which has 12,000 patients, has now issued a statement saying: “The partners at Eastgate Medical Group have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from the proposed merger with their colleagues in Holderness and instead concentrate on continuing to provide high quality care for their patients in Hornsea and surrounding areas.

“We wish our colleagues in Hedon and Withernsea well with their plans to continue the merger of three remaining practices.

“Having worked together successfully for a number of years, we will continue to collaborate on projects which affect our patients across the locality

“As a strong practice, we feel that we are well placed to continue to provide high quality, patient centred care for our patients.

“We plan to use the opportunity to reflect and consider the options for change to enhance the range of services available for patients and give greater opportunities for our staff."

The three practices going ahead with the merger share responsibility for 36,000 patients and will be known as Holderness Health.

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GP practice changes

Dr Graham Heaton, from South Holderness Medical Practice, said: “We’re sorry Eastgate Medical Group won’t be part of our merger but I’m sure we’ll work with them again in the future and we wish our colleagues there well.”

The new practice will be made up of 21 partners and more than 120 staff.

By joining together, the surgeries hope to achieve benefits for both their patients and staff, including attracting new GPs and nurses to the area and improving career opportunities for staff. They also want to develop their growing reputation as a centre of excellence for training and research.

Importantly, all three practices feel that by joining together they will be better able to safeguard high quality services for their patients by becoming a more resilient organisation.

Hedon Group Practice is "very committed" to the merger

Dr Laura Wallis, of Church View Surgery in Hedon, said: “We’re better placed to meet the needs of our patients and our staff in a larger practice so we’re all still very committed to this merger and working hard to make it happen.”

The practices have been speaking to patients and staff about their proposals and are pleased with the positive response so far.

Dr Natalie Metcalfe from Hedon Group Practice confirmed Holderness Health has now been chosen as the name for the new practice.

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She said: “We wanted a name that summed up why we wanted to merge in the first place and Holderness Health fits the bill perfectly because it’s all about putting the health of our patients in Holderness first.”

The surgeries are keen to emphasise it will be “business as usual” for patients and there will be no change to opening times at any of the practices.